Written by Junanto Xu Edited by Beverley Lennon

It’s no secret that once you taste the rich and glorious Padang cuisine (also known as Minangkabau Cuisine), an undying obsession will grow and leave you craving for more! No wonder Indonesians are fond of this cuisine; it is so popular that you can find restaurants across the whole of Indonesia offering the so-loved delicacies; in fact it is a regional obsession!

The city of Padang has long been used as a main port for the trading of spices – blame it on its undeniable location as it is bordering the waters of the Indian Ocean. And as an absorbing culture, you will be able to find the same kicking spices in traditional Padang cuisine, hidden in flavourful, rich and thick curry sauces!

In addition, the migration of the Chinese in the 80’s has also greatly influenced its traditional cuisine, offering diverse flavours that are meant to tickle your palates!

Padang cuisine is not only about its variety of dishes (a dozen of them!) but it is also popular for its serving style as the food is served on small platters chosen from the window, or menu, or simply brought by a waiter to your table.

Our list will help you unravel the food capital and chomp on an all rice and curry vacation across Padang and its surroundings (Bukittinggi, Padang Panjang, Pariaman and more!). Ready to embark on a real gourmet adventure?

This story would not have been possible without the support of Indonesia Tourism Board. For more information, check out Padang’s official website.

You can’t say you’ve been to Bukittinggi if you haven’t tried Nasi Kapau! You are bound to be spoiled with choices but one that won’t disappoint is surely the oh-so popular, Nasi Kapau Uni Lis!

What sets Nasi Kapau Uni Lis a level higher besides having more than 29 years of experience in crafting this exquisite cuisine, is their legendary Usus Tambusu (egg and tofu wrapped in cow intestine). Make sure to have this as a side dish along with their other delicacies!

Photo via Yuke87, Fredybenji

Fun fact: Nasi Kapau and Nasi Padang both consist of steamed rice with santan (coconut milk), served with dozens of small platters of various dishes representative of their regional cuisine, Kapau and Padang.

Photo via Daisy7003

At a Nasi Padang restaurant, you will notice that the platters at the window display are arranged higher (almost covering the waiter behind it) while the dishes are displayed at a lower level for the Nasi Kapau!

Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, it would not be fair to judge this little eatery by its looks. Drop anchor at Ikan Bar Djoni/Kun and settle for a delectable time feasting on their fresh catch of the day!

Photo via ferrytan90, robertwong75

Their signature santan (coconut milk) sauce blends wonderfully with any of their seafood dish! In here, you are ready to tear in a crustacea feast; from humongous stingrays and prawns to the freshest fish and squid! You are in for a treat as affordable seafood is itself grandiose enough to be called a luxury while in Padang!

4. No. 1 Fish Curry in town: Pauh Piaman

Looking forward to savour the most authentic Nasi Padang while you’re in town? Then why settle for the ordinary when you can try the most sought-after fish curry? Pauh Piaman will be one of your best bet and you should absolutely not miss it!

Photo via Robywiryawan

While feasting over the small platters of Minang cuisine here, make sure you try their signature Gulai Ikan (Fish Curry), with tender palm size fish head drenched in a thick, savoury and yellowish curry sauce that is infused deep in the flesh.

Believe us, it’s not an understatement when Pauh Piaman claimed that the restaurant serves “The Most Excellent Taste of Gulai Ikan”. This restaurant is dedicated to preserving the authentic taste of Padang by solely using local ingredients, you have to try it to know it!

5. A legendary grilled delicacy: Sate Danguang-danguang

Finding a sate cart or stall in Padang is no difficult task, but your ultimate goal should be to look out for Sate Danguang-danguang; where Padang’s legendary sates are served!

Nearing the stall, you will smell the aroma of juicy beef skewers (sate) wafting through the air, ticking your nose, watering your mouth and inviting you to sit and devour. This perfect combination of tender meat and peanut sauce has been pleasing the crowd since 1995!

This martabak (Indonesian fried pancake) is worth flying all the way from your hometown, as it rivals any other traditional pancake stall in the region!

Photo via Hannie_wirya, Ichad.akmal_

Being the pioneer of Martabak Kumbang (martabak filled with beef chunks), many claim that Martabak Kumbang Hayuda is easily the best martabak they have ever had!

What to expect? A crispy and flaky pancake packed with flavourful and soft beef chunks, along with a spicy kick, topped with vinegar drips – the illustration of a perfect martabak!

Photo via Dygo_pratama, Rubiyulman, Mieyatiens, Icha.irawan

The stall name, Kubang and Hayuda, is derived from the village of Kubang – the birthplace of the stall founder. Who would have thought that a small road side stall opened in 1971 would become one of the most successful martabak in town!

7. Boiling Since “1974”: Restoran Soto Garuda

When an eatery has been opened for 42 years (and still counting) and is packed to the brim on a daily basis, you can only assume how good it is!

Their special beef soto (noodle soup with various spices) dates back to a secret family recipe and the heartwarming dish is bound to be a real delight. Take this traditional dish a step further by trying their famous fried cow lung; this blends perfectly with your hearty soup!

Ganti Nan Lamo has been combating the heat of Padang for 3 generations and for over 58 years! Moreover, they are pretty successful judging from their never-ending crowd.

Photo via Yusnainiyusuf, Yasrialyasin

Their famous weapon, the Es Durian has never lost a battle against those with a picky sweet tooth too! Blame it on the main ingredient as they only use the best durian from the South Sumatra coastal area.

Photo via Hestiayu23, Pku.eatlovers

The owner is dedicated to keeping her great-grandmother’s food legacy alive, and that’s nothing but a real blessing for us durian and dessert lovers!

9. The street food paradise: Los Lambuang (Bukittinggi)

Los Lambuang does not only have its name. In fact, there is a deeper meaning to it – “Los” stands for alley and “Lambuang” for stomach and yes it is an alley to visit to fill up your stomach!

The narrow street is filled with dozens of Nasi Kapau stalls where you can engage on your very own food adventure by munching from stall to stall. Besides Nasi Kapau, don’t miss out on other local delicacies like Katupek Pecel (veggie salad with peanut sauce), Pisang Kapik (fried banana), Ampiang Dadiah (Fermented Buffalo milk), Lamang Tapai (glutinous rice dessert) and many more.

Photo by ilacitraPhoto by foodhunterbuk

Make sure you try them all and let us know if you’ve found your favourite one!

10. Your midnight guilty pleasure: Ongkrongan Turagari

If your stomach is begging for late night treats while you’re in Padang, you’ll be surprised by how Ongkrongan Turagiri’s lontong can hush away that midnight hunger.

Photo via Alalenoh

You can spot the crowd unwinding here after a busy day to savour their light yet scrumptious lontong, and what makes the lontong special is that you can coat it with a wide variety of curries, be it you prefer fern curry, young jackfruit curry or the traditional ones to stay on the safe side (but why would you do that!).

And to end the night, the locals usually wash it down with a traditional dessert – Bubur Kampion, a sweet dessert mix made of green beans, coconut milk, rice flour porridge, banana and more good stuff, make sure you try this too as it is everyone’s favourite!

11. Padang’s seafood heaven: Rumah Makan Fuja Padang

If you have an undying obsession for seafood and looking for a feast in Padang, you’re in for the ideal treat at Rumah Makan Fuja. This local eatery is located nearby Padang Beach and is ready to serve you heavenly seafood freshly caught from ocean!

Be ready to get hooked as many say that they can’t imagine eating at other seafood stalls in Padang once they have tried Rumah Makan Fuja. Their grilled fish and prawn topped with their homemade secret sauce is something to-die-for!

Photo via Danieltumiwa, Mr_andipermadi

They surely put love and care in every dish as each item is handmade from scratch with the freshest ingredients!

If the risk of ending up with bad breath won’t stop your determination in chasing unique street food, the petai (bitter bean) fried rice at Bofet Mi-mien is a must on your to-eat-list while you’re in town.

45 years of experience has perfected Bofet Mi-mien’s skills in enhancing the fragrance of petai and its crunchiness into the fried rice; it’s hard not to fall in love with the bitter savoury taste from the petai while your special fried rice comes with bitter beans, chunks of fried beef, fried prawn, shredded cabbage, celery and a fried egg on top!

Photo via mustajab_moezahar, hanorawati

If you’re not ready to be adventurous, their mie rebus (noodle soup) is a good alternative as it also has its own devotees, thanks to its glorious and robust taste!

This is where you can find the most authentic Padang-style cendol, where a mixture of tapioca flour and rice flour are used as main ingredients and filled with a lots of other goodness like red sticky rice, emping (Indonesian chips), coconut milk, and brown sugar. You can’t buy happiness but you can buy a cup of Es Cendol and it is pretty much the same!

14. A sip through time: Kopi Nan Yo

Established in 1932, it is with no doubt that Kopi Nan Yo reflects the most genuine side of traditional Padang way of life.

Photo via Laoderendrian, Satria_adie

Their signature drinks include the staple ice coffee and the Kopi Talua (raw egg coffee), a weird yet satisfying combination. These not only depict good old times but also help to satisfy your caffeine fix! The building itself is a perfect illustration of cultural heritage, a historical landmark where our favorite beverage has been served and enjoyed in much the same way for decades.

15. The best Ayam Pop in town (or the world): Rumah Makan Family Benteng (Bukittinggi)

If you’re a true Nasi Padang fan, you may know that it’s not hard to find Ayam Pop (fried chicken cooked in coconut broth) in a Padang Restaurant. But if you want to trace back and find out where it all first started, come over to Rumah Makan Family Benteng.

This local eatery has been in business since 1950 and still maintain their traditional cooking methods – they steam the chicken before frying it and this helps to keep their Ayam Pop savoury, juicy, and tender on the inside. The ongoing determination in making great quality food has helped to create a good reputation for the restaurant, with both regular and new customers coming over!

Photo via Foodnote, Fabimanjoe

Each meal here is also accompanied by yet another secret concoction – their homemade chili sauce. You should not miss their Ayam Pop as many consider it as an integral part of traveling to Padang, and it’s a delicious window into new cultures, a taste of human history!

16. Indulge in those skewered goodness: Sate Itjap

Being one of the sate superstars in town, Sate Itjap 50 years legacy has undoubtedly spread out through the city to become everyone’s favourite. Their meat skewers, coconut-meat gravy, and deep fried shallot complement one another perfectly – a blend of the familiar to the completely foreign that are all worth the taste!

Photo via JocelinA

If you are a little more adventurous when it comes to food, don’t miss out on their Usus Dan Lidah Sate (cow intestine and tongue) for a wacky delicacy – get ready for a surprising explosion of flavours; this is not your usual sate!

17. Check out the hipster coffee that is trendy right now: KopiMil Om Ping Pondok

If you’re wondering what the youngsters of Padang are raving about currently, come straight to this coffee shop to try their KopMil (Coffee with Milo). It’s a weird combination but it seems to attract the crowds of the new age. A typical rite of passage from childhood to adulthood would be switching from Milo to coffee but seems like we can get both at KopMil!

It all first started when the owner, Om Ping wanted to create a new trendy beverage – little did he know that his Milo and Coffee concoction would drive the crowd crazy!

Photo via Astfooddiary, GoodIndonesianFood

The shop is conveniently located at Padang’s Chinatown and you can always opt to take away to gulp it down while exploring the area, just like how real foodies do it!

If you are tired of the same old coffee drinks and ready to try something new, you know where to go. The trend has also expanded to other parts of Indonesia and who knows if this will replace their traditional Avocado Coffee? We hope not!

18. A fluffy treat along the highway: Bika Si Mariana (Bukittinggi)

A little treat on the road is always a good idea. Located on the Highway of Trans Sumatra, Bika Si Mariana is the pioneer of Bika in the area and it is the perfect road trip snack when the journey seems to be long and boring!

Photo via Ambosyarif, Edickkurniawan, Novia_wr

In here, you will find the fluffiest Bikas made of 3 simple ingredients: rice flour, coconut milk, and brown sugar. But what make this dessert so addictive lies in its cooking method; the chef bakes it in a claypot on top of a wooden stove while it is layered with banana leaves – this is their traditional cooking art! Pack a whole box of these to survive your road trip!

19. Take a journey through time at this old sate stall: Sate Mak Syukur (Padang Panjang)

In the early 40’s, Mak Syukur (the founder of Sate Mak Syukur) used to walk 8 kilometres every day with a grill and her homemade meat skewers to sell them from door to door. Years later, her legacy remains, and now Sate Mak Syukur has become the most prominent sate stall in Padang Panjang (not to be mistaken with Padang).

Although now Sate Mak Syukur is run by her successor, the taste of her sate still remains legendary. Each plate of sate here is the result of hours of preparation and years of dedication and hard work.

Photo via Uda.yolly, Thiayufada, Diantikapoppyharun

Their skewers are lined up on a long grill, puffing out aromatic smoke that is meant to tickle and tease your senses. The taste does not disappoint either – their delectable sauce is second to none!

Photo via Debbie_diarra, Ms_stevy

If one plate isn’t enough, you can also opt for their buffet style and enjoy their all-you-can-eat sate feast!

What’s better than gulping down a refreshing beverage to digest all of these rich foods you enjoyed in West Sumatra?

You are set for a surprise drink at at Uncu Nelli (the only Cinduak Langkok store in Los Lambuang). In here, you will be served with a special secret concoction made with the freshest ingredients – from red and green tapioca flour, dried sticky rice, jackfruit, palm sugar, shaved ice to durian and lopis (a local dessert made from glutinous rice)! All this is mixed and served in a bowl!

21. Take a spoon of locally made yogurt: Rumah Makan H. Minah (Bukittinggi)

There is a lot more than the trendy Greek yogurt; as cities spread around the world, so too did yogurt! If you are in for a refreshing, tasty and healthy snack while in Padang, you should absolutely try their yogurt that comes with a local twist!

Although you must be used to the creamy French style of yogurt and thick Greek versions, delving into the entire rest of the world of yogurt is a good idea as these are unique concoctions that are often unique to the region – Dadiah is a culinary vestige that can only be found in West Sumatra!

22. World Best Halal Restaurant: Rumah Makan Lamun Ombak

Voted as the Best Halal Restaurant by the World Halal Tourism Award in 2016, Lamun Ombak is the pride of all Indonesians! This legendary restaurants offers authentic cuisine from Padang and promises an exciting culinary journey with diverse dishes to indulge in.

Photo via Maddensiagian, Eyi_djasmin

Gulp down like a local and don’t miss out on their delectable Rendang, Ayam Pop, and Gulai Ikan – these are bound to leave your tastebuds in a state of pure ecstasy and turn you into a real Nasi Padang addict!

Photo via Iggers71, Davyatmadja, Leoniarvia, Fitriaulia

Tip: Come in at off-peak hours as the restaurant is popular and can be quite packed (hence slower service)!

Sheltered right under Bukittinggi’s landmark – a giant clock, a few food peddlers wait impatiently to sell out their irresistible giant-sized crackers topped with noodles and sweet peanut sauce!

Photo by rimacomel

Don’t miss out of this street snack as it could be the highlight of your trip. Kerupuk Siram, also known as Kerupuk Leak, is a local street creation adored by every local. Although the delicacy can be found at other touristy spots, eating it under Jam Gadang (the giant clock) does make it a tad bit special while history, culture and gastronomy blend together!

24. Ever had flowers in your salad? : Pical Sikai (Bukittinggi)

Pecel (Indonesian veggie salad covered with peanut sauce) is a pretty common dish in Indonesia, but you can’t expect the ordinary while in the country’s food capital. In here, your traditional salad is served with a twist as you will be also indulging in banana flowers.

Photo via Ditalalitya

Located just a few meters from the entrance of Gua Jepang (historical Japanese Cave), Pical Sikai is where you can find the authentic pecel of Bukittinggi. This dish is meant to appease your tastebuds with its tangy sauce, the delicate light aroma of bananas and the crunch from the freshest vegetables!

The store has been around since 1948 and its authenticity has never been questioned. Their plate of pecel is served with cassava leaves, radish, lontong (rice cake), peanut sauce and most importantly, the banana flowers. Get ready for an explosion of flavours!

Special mention

If you just can’t get enough of Padang’s local food and want to pack some back home with you, here’s where you can find Padang best food souvenirs. Plus, these make great edible gifts for friends and relatives!

25-a. Rendang Bread? Or Durian Bread?!: Roti Randang Ninur

Obsessed with Beef Rendang (beef stewed with coconut milk and spices for long hours)? Roti Ninur takes it to the next level and offers a brilliant creation – Roti Randang (rendang bread)! Your cravings can be satisfied anytime, anywhere – at home or on the go!

Photo by nanutmci, sovifooddiary, rotidurianbukittinggi

Besides their unique Rendang delicacy, Roti Ninur also proposes yet another culinary signature with their durian bread – a fruity, skunky roti treat! If you aren’t a durian lover, this might even increase your chances on becoming one!

Now you won’t have any issue recalling the sweet and wonderful tastes of Padang.

Can’t get over Padang’s spicy and savoury flavors? Hurray, you can now bring home a taste of it. Pack some of Christine Hakim’s Kripik Balado (spicy crackers) to indulge with friends and relatives while you brag about your culinary expedition in Padang.

There are various flavours to choose from and you are likely to find a yummy gift for all your special ones; but don’t miss out on packing some for yourselves or else you’ll have to come back for more (which is never a bad idea either!)

Best time to travel

If you’re planning to spend your holiday in Padang’s beaches or mountains, you definitely need to come during the dry season from April to October. But if you want to visit waterfalls, March is your best bet as the season shifts from wet to dry, so the water flow is still strong and the waterfalls are at its best form.

Do avoid travelling during the holiday season as prices here will go up, including flight tickets, accommodation, transportation and so on. The only thing that goes down is your satisfaction.

Getting around

You can easily travel to Padang city via taxis such as Grab or GoJek which can accommodate up to 6 passengers. But if you wish to explore further and venture to other towns in West Sumatra, or simply want to have more flexibility, here’s our recommendation:

Renting a car with private driver/ guide

If you’re looking for a comfy vehicle and friendly service, you should check out Ghaisan Rental in Padang. You can choose from vehicles that can accomodate from 4 to 16 people. The rental service will provide you a driver/ guide (fuel excluded), just show them your plan and they will take you there!

Please book at least 1 day in advance to ensure car availability.

This list of street food is sure to guide and inspire you to visit Indonesia’s food capital! Let us know which delicacy you are looking forward to try! Share with us by commenting below and tag your foodie friends!

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us